Starting out in 1963 with the group Bob Marley & The Wailers, he forged a distinctive song-writing and vocal style that would later resonate with audiences worldwide.
The Wailers would go on to release some of the earliest reggae records with producer Lee Scratch Perry.
After The Wailers disbanded in 1974, Marley pursued a solo career which culminated in the release of the album Exodus in 1977 which established his worldwide reputation and became one of the world's best-selling artists of all time, with sales of more than 75 million albums and singles.
Bob Marley was a member of this Rastafari movement, whose culture was a key element in the development of reggae. Bob Marley became the leading proponent of the Rastafari, taking their music out of socially deprived areas of Jamaica and onto the international music scene.
Now considered a "Rasta" prophet, Marley's adoption of the characteristic Rastafarian dreadlocks and famous use of marijuana as a sacred sacrament in the late sixties were an integral part of his persona. He is said to have entered every performance proclaiming the divinity of Jah Rastafari.
A few months before his death, Marley was baptised into the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and took the name Berhane Selassie (meaning the Light of the Holy Trinity in Amharic).
His best known songs are a mixture of reggae, Roots Reggae, and rhythm and blues, which include:
I Shot the Sheriff
Exodus
Could You Be Loved
Redemption Song
No Woman, No Cry
Three Little Birds
Buffalo Soldier
Is This Love
One Love
Stir It Up
Jammin'
Get Up, Stand Up
His posthumous album Legend (1984) became the best-selling reggae album ever, with sales of more than 12 million copies.
Bob Marley was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994; in December 1999, his album “Exodus” (1977) was named Album of the Century by Time Magazine and his song “One Love” was designated Song of the Millennium by the BBC.
Awards and Honors:
1976 - Rolling Stone Magazine's "Band of the Year"
1978 - United Nations' Peace Medal of the Third World
1981 - Jamaican Order of Merit
1994 - The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
1999 - Time Magazine's Best Album of the Century
2001 - Star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame
2001- GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award
2004 - Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time (#11)
2006 - The United Kingdom's "Blue Plaque"
2006 - Bob Marley Boulevard named in Brooklyn, New York
2010 - GRAMMY Hall Of Fame (Catch A Fire)
2012 - August the 7th, proclamed Bob Marley Day (Los Angeles)
2013 - GRAMMY Tribute Performance
Marley tragically died of cancer at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami, Florida on May 11, 1981.
Religion:
Bob Marley was a member of the Rastafari movement, (not rastafaranism as that is seen as a derogortory term as Rasta's don't like being refered to as an ism) whose culture was a key element in the development of reggae music in Jamaica. Rastas belive they are outcast from their native Zion and looked on Ethiopia as their real home and Tafarai Makonnen, who took the title Haile Sellasie I(Power of the Holy Trinity in Amharic), after he became the emperor of Ethiopia, as their leader. Rastas belive H.I.M. is Jesus in flesh. Rastas are considered to be black Jews.
Rastas claim their root from King Solomon and Abbysinian queen of Sheba, through lineage of their son Menelik, emperor of Abbysinia. H.I.M. is said to be a direct decendant of Menelik. 'Ras' means Head and 'Tafarai" means Creator. 'Jah' is the shortened form of the Hebrew word Jehovah. Rastas belive in one truth and that is the truth of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Sellasie I, King of kings, Lord of lords, conquering Lion of the tribe of Judah, two hundred and twenty-fifth ruler of the three thousand year old Ethiopian empire, elect of Jah, Light of the world. Jah Rastafari live out. Rastas preach a non-materialistic, egalitarian way of life. Bob Marley became a leading proponent of the Rastafari, taking their music out of the socially deprived areas of Jamaica and onto the international music scene. Bob Marley was baptized by the Archbishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Church in Kingston, Jamaica on November 4, 1980.
Diet:
Marley's diet was ital; fruit, vegetables and fish; which is food approved by the Rastafari movement.
Family:
Bob Marley had 13 children: three with his wife Rita Marley, two adopted from Rita's previous relationships, and the remaining eight with separate women.
His children are, in order of birth:
Imani Carole, born May 22, 1963, to Cheryl Murray;
Sharon, born November 23, 1964, to Rita in previous relationship;
Cedella born August 23, 1967, to Rita;
David "Ziggy Marley", born October 17, 1968, to Rita;
Stephen Marley, born April 20, 1972, to Rita;
Robert "Robbie", born May 16, 1972, to Pat Williams;
Rohan, born May 19, 1972, to Janet Hunt;
Karen, born 1973 to Janet Bowen;
Stephanie, born August 17, 1974; according to Cedella Booker she was the daughter of Rita and a man called Ital with whom Rita had an affair; nonetheless she was acknowledged as Bob's daughter;
Julian Marley, born June 4, 1975, to Lucy Pounder;
Ky-Mani Marley, born February 26, 1976, to Anita Belnavis;
Damian Marley, born July 21, 1978, to Cindy Breakspeare;
Makeda, born May 30, 1981, to Yvette Crichton.
See here for comedian Bob Marley the comedian: Comedian Bob Marley
Memphis
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, oh op-bo, bo, bo-bo-bo!
Yes, me friend, me friend,
Them set me free again
Yes, me friend, me friend,
Me deh 'pon street again
The bars could not hold me
They try to keep me down,
But God put me around
Yes, I've been accused,
Wrongly abused, now
But through the powers of the Most-'Igh,
They've got to turn me loose, mm!
(Brr) Don't try (brr)
To cold me up (brr)
On this (brr) bridge now
I've got to reach Mount Zion
The 'ighest region
(Brr) If you bull-bucka,
Let me tell you that
I'm a duppy conqueror, conqueror
Yes, me friend, me good friend,
Them set me free again, mm
Yes, me friend,
Them turn me loose again
(Brr) Don't try (brr)
To cold me up on (brr)
This (brr) bridge now
I've got to reach Mount Zion
The 'ighest region
(Brr) If you bull-bucka,
Let me tell you
I'm a duppy conqueror, hit it! (conqueror)
(Yes, me friend,) me friend, me friend, me friend,
We deh a street again
Yes, me friend, me friend, me friend,
Dem set me free again
Dem set me free again
Don't try to show off
Fi make you friend dem laugh, what a la-la!
For I will cut you off
And I will have the last laugh
I'm cryin'! Yes, me friend,
We deh a street again, yea-eah
Yes, me friend, me friend, me friend,
(Dem set me free again.)
Oh-oh-ooh, yeah mm-mm
Bars could not hold me
The song Memphis by Bob Marley is a story of triumph over adversity. The lyrics recount the singer’s imprisonment and subsequent release, thanks to divine intervention. The chorus, “Yes, me friend, me friend, them set me free again,” highlights the importance of friendship and community in difficult times. The singer refuses to be held down by the laws or social expectations of his oppressors, instead relying on his inner strength and faith to guide him. The use of patois, such as “op-bo, bo, bo-bo-bo,” adds a distinctly Jamaican flavor to the song and emphasizes the singer’s perseverance in the face of adversity.
The second verse reinforces the singer’s determination to move forward and achieve his goals, despite opposition. When he sings, “If you bull-bucka, let me tell you that I’m a duppy conqueror,” he is asserting his dominance over those who would try to hold him back. The term “duppy” refers to a ghost in Jamaican folklore, and the conqueror is someone who has overcome their obstacles to reach their destination. The narrative is drawn to a close with repeated phrases of “dem set me free again” and “bars could not hold me,” signifying the singer’s ultimate triumph.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, oh op-bo, bo, bo-bo-bo!
Expressing upbeat energy and excitement
Yes, me friend, me friend, Them set me free again
Bob Marley is grateful to his friend for helping him escape from prison
Yes, me friend, me friend, Me deh 'pon street again
Bob Marley is happy to be back on the street again after being in prison
The bars could not hold me
Bob Marley feels he is too powerful to be contained by physical barriers
Force could not control me now
Bob Marley believes he is strong enough to overcome any obstacles thrown his way
They try to keep me down, But God put me around
Bob Marley feels that no matter what others do, God will always guide him in the right direction
Yes, I've been accused, Wrongly abused, now
Bob Marley has been victimized and treated unfairly by others
But through the powers of the Most-'Igh, They've got to turn me loose, mm!
Bob Marley believes that God's power will ultimately lead to his freedom from unjust accusations
I've got to reach Mount Zion The 'ighest region
Bob Marley seeks to reach a state of spiritual enlightenment and salvation
If you bull-bucka, Let me tell you that I'm a duppy conqueror, conqueror
Bob Marley asserts that he is a conqueror who will overcome any negative forces or people who try to bring him down
(Yes, me friend,) me friend, me friend, me friend, We deh a street again
Bob Marley expresses gratitude towards his friend
Don't try to show off For I will cut you off And I will have the last laugh
Bob Marley warns people not to try to deceive him or act superior, as he is capable of cutting them off and coming out on top
I'm cryin'! Yes, me friend, We deh a street again, yea-eah
Bob Marley is emotional and happy to be reunited with his friend on the street
Oh-oh-ooh, yeah mm-mm Bars could not hold me
Reiterating Bob Marley's belief that he cannot be contained or restrained by physical barriers
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jose Duarte
Massa esse som fica na mente
Chris Marley
Quero conhecer a Jamaicaaaaaaaaaaaaaa 💚💛❤️🇧🇷🇯🇲
Antilusion69'
yo te llevo algun dia ;)
Ziplok
Salute Bob Marley!
Al.D
What’s the original song ?
Big Ben
I believe it’s just a instrumental
Antilusion69'
is that augustus pablo' on wind instrument? tubby¿?
jairomague
Is Peter Tosh on melodica
The American Storyteller
@jairomague Funny you should ask, this was recorded around the same time Augustus Pablo was making his first recordings "Iggy Iggy" and "Java" on the Melodica. Peter would also play the Melodica on "Sun is Shining."